Autonomo Spain shares five years of experience with tax guides, tools, services, and clear explanations for freelancers in Spain.
Hi, I’m Adrienne. I’ve been autónoma in Spain for many years, and in this website I’ve put together some of what I’ve learned — and what I wish I’d known or had easy access to when I was starting out. More about me.
Over the years, I’ve worked with all sorts of clients in Spain, Europe and across the world and taken on all kinds of projects during my rather adventurous journey as an autónomo in Spain. Alongside the actual work, I’ve had to learn the ins and outs of the bureaucracy, work with tax deadlines, tracking revenue and expenses, even redoing an invoice or two because I got the format or VAT wrong.
It’s been a massive learning curve, but now I feel like I know what I’m doing, and I thought some of what I’ve picked up might be helpful to you too. So I decided to write it all down.

You need to be in the register of intra-community operators if you are going to buy or sell goods or services to other EU countries without charging IVA/VAT.

A Spanish digital certificate is a tool that to access electronic services. Cl@ve and idCAT are alternatives that can also be used across official Spanish services.

The Declaración de la Renta is Spain’s yearly income tax form

Autónomo fees are social security contributions that cover, social security, healthcare, pensions, and other benefits that are included in your monthly cuota.

Autonomo is the category of employment for a freelancer or self-employed person in Spain.

IRPF is Spain’s personal income tax. If you’re self-employed, you must file it annually and may also make quarterly payments through Modelo 130.

Tarifa Plana is the first year discount for new freelancers/autonomos in Spain. There are conditions though…

Customs taxes and fees apply to packages sent from outside the EU to EU countries. How does it affect you?